Whereas the overwhelming majority of the give attention to the Cubs’ outfield combine this winter has been on the commerce candidacy of Cody Bellinger, teammate Seiya Suzuki has emerged as an intriguing commerce candidate in his personal proper in latest weeks. Earlier reporting has described the membership as “decided” to maneuver one of many two outfielders, and at this time Suzuki’s agent Joel Wolfe supplied notable perception on the opportunity of his consumer getting dealt, as relayed by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Wolfe informed reporters (together with Rogers) this afternoon that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer approached him final evening about which groups are enthusiastic about Suzuki’s companies. Notably, Suzuki has a full no-trade clause, that means that he and Wolfe are free to reject any commerce proposal involving the outfielder. Wolfe steered that whereas Suzuki is theoretically open to a commerce, he added that “it’s a fairly small universe” when it comes to groups he can be keen to entertain being moved to.
Along with confirming that there are groups not less than inquiring on Suzuki’s availability, Wolfe’s feedback additionally revealed one potential motivation for Suzuki to entertain commerce affords: his want to play the outfield frequently. Following the emergence of prime prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong because the membership’s on a regular basis middle fielder final summer season, Suzuki discovered himself parked at DH frequently as soon as the membership’s outfield combine was totally well being and Bellinger cemented himself because the membership’s common proper fielder. That’s a state of affairs he was evidently displeased with, as Wolfe steered that Suzuki seemingly “wouldn’t have signed with a staff” who pitched being their on a regular basis DH to him in free company.
That potential supply of discord between participant and staff shines a brand new mild on the Cubs’ efforts to commerce both Suzuki or Bellinger this winter. With Ian Happ locked in because the membership’s left fielder and Crow-Armstrong having cemented himself in middle, it’s simple that the membership’s greatest defensive alignment with their present group of gamers entails Bellinger in proper discipline with Suzuki at DH. Suzuki was well-regarded defensively for his work within the outfield throughout his NPB days however has oscillated between common and under common all through his three seasons within the massive leagues in response to defensive metrics. His -3 Outs Above Common final 12 months ranked thirty third amongst 42 certified proper fielders. Whereas Bellinger didn’t get sufficient reps to qualify, he’s earned +2 Outs Above Common for his work throughout all three outfield spots in two seasons with the Cubs and is usually considered a plus defender in an outfield nook.
In fact, that’s to not say the Cubs would essentially favor to commerce Suzuki. Certainly, the membership’s obvious aggressiveness in purchasing Bellinger suggests simply the alternative, and it’s not onerous to see why. For one issues, Bellinger’s $27.5MM wage in 2025 eclipses the $19MM Suzuki is owed this 12 months, and Bellinger’s participant choice for 2026 affords Chicago much less certainty shifting ahead than Suzuki’s assured contract. What’s extra, Suzuki is a greater hitter and maybe even the very best hitter on the staff. The 29-year-old’s .283/.366/.482 (138 wRC+) slash line this 12 months dwarfs Bellinger’s personal line of .266/.325/.426 (109 wRC+), and Suzuki has lengthy been a statcast darling who hits the ball onerous and takes his walks in comparison with Bellinger’s low exit velocities and contact-oriented method.
To that finish, Cubs GM Carter Hawkins spoke to reporters (together with Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) this afternoon and downplayed the probability of a commerce.
“We don’t wish to commerce Seiya,” Hawkins mentioned, as relayed by Montemurro. “however, look, as [Wolfe] talked about there’s individuals enthusiastic about nice gamers and so if groups come asking these are not less than conversations that we’re keen to have, however I actually don’t suppose a lot goes to return of it.“
Hawkins’s feedback lend additional credence to earlier reporting relating to Suzuki’s availability that steered whereas the Cubs have been keen to entertain affords for the slugger, a deal was solely more likely to come collectively if Chicago was unable to commerce Bellinger. Up to now, Bellinger has acquired reported curiosity from the Yankees, Mariners, Astros, and Diamondbacks on the very least, suggesting {that a} Bellinger commerce stays the extra seemingly final result until the marketplace for his companies falls aside within the coming days and weeks.
